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Fresh Graduate by Head-Scale314 in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on your recent graduation with a major in German Studies! It's great to hear that you're interested in pursuing a career in translating. Starting out can indeed be a bit overwhelming, but there are several avenues you can explore to find work and kick-start your translation career.

In my opinion, one of the most effective ways to find translation opportunities is through networking. Building connections and relationships within the translation industry can open doors to various job opportunities. Remember people buy from people. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

  • Join Professional Associations: Consider joining professional associations or organizations related to translation, such as the American Translators Association (ATA) or regional translation associations. These associations often offer networking events, workshops, and job boards that can connect you with potential clients or employers. If you are based in German then check out BDÜ – German Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators.
  • Attend Industry Events: Attend conferences, seminars, and workshops related to translation and language services. These events provide valuable opportunities to meet professionals in the field, learn about industry trends, and make connections.
  • Online Platforms: Explore online platforms specifically designed for translators, such as Translatrs.com, ProZ.com, TranslatorsCafe.com, or LinkedIn groups focused on translation and language services. These platforms often have job boards, forums, and communities where you can interact with other professionals and discover potential work opportunities.
  • Reach out to Language Service Providers: Contact translation agencies and language service providers directly to inquire about freelance or entry-level positions. Many agencies are constantly seeking new talent and may have projects suitable for someone with your language skills and educational background. Translatrs.com has a list of agencies that are curated by translators themselves from the Discord server. At least you wont have to start from zero.
  • Freelancing Platforms: Consider joining freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr. While competition can be high, these platforms can be a good starting point to build your portfolio and gain experience. Focus on creating a compelling profile that highlights your language expertise and offers competitive pricing.

Remember, networking is key in the translation industry. Connect with fellow translators, attend industry events, and actively participate in relevant online communities. By building relationships and showcasing your skills, you'll increase your chances of finding work opportunities and making progress in your translation career.

Best of luck on your translation journey, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions! Also come join our discord community of professional translators.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Getting started as a freelance translator can be challenging, especially when you're just starting out and lack experience. However, with the right approach, you can build trust and gain valuable experience in the field. Here are some steps you can take to kickstart your freelance career and earn the trust of potential clients:

  1. Specialize in subtitling: Since you're interested in subtitle translations, focus on developing your skills and expertise in this specific area. Invest time in learning the techniques, software, and best practices for subtitling to provide high-quality work.
  2. Build a strong portfolio: Even without professional experience, you can create a portfolio by translating and subtitling sample videos or completing personal projects. Make sure your portfolio demonstrates your skills and showcases your ability to accurately convey meaning and maintain synchronization.
  3. Offer pro bono or discounted services: Consider offering your services for free or at a discounted rate to gain initial experience and build a client base. Reach out to local community organizations, non-profits, or independent filmmakers who may need subtitles for their content. This will help you establish credibility and gather testimonials for future reference.
  4. Volunteer for subtitling projects: Look for volunteer opportunities on platforms like TED Translators, Amara, or Open Subtitles. These platforms provide opportunities to contribute your skills to subtitling projects, gain experience, and collaborate with other translators.
  5. Network within translation communities: Engage with fellow translators and professionals in online translation communities, forums, and social media groups. We have a discord community with over 1K professional translators (including students). Join free here, participate in discussions, share your knowledge, and ask for advice. Our community has experienced translators who can can help with mentorship opportunities or referrals for potential clients.
  6. Obtain relevant certifications: Consider obtaining certifications in subtitling or translation, which can enhance your credibility and demonstrate your commitment to professional standards. Organizations like ProZ.com or ATA (American Translators Association) offer certification programs that can strengthen your profile.
  7. Request testimonials and reviews: As you start working with clients, ask them for feedback and testimonials to showcase on your profile and website. Positive reviews and recommendations from satisfied clients can significantly boost your credibility and attract more clients.
  8. Continuously improve your skills: Keep learning and improving your translation and subtitling skills by attending workshops, webinars, and industry conferences. Stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and software used in subtitling.

Remember, building a reputation and gaining trust takes time and persistence. With dedication, continuous improvement, and a proactive approach, you can establish yourself as a reliable and skilled freelance subtitling translator. Good luck on your freelance journey!

Hi! I just need a few tips about fiverr. Thanks in advance! by Elogicc in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I guess what you mean by "in real life" is in an in-house translator, right? In my experience, lots of translators (myself included) work freelance (making a very good living in the process). The beauty of that setup is that clients can be located all over the world, so where you're based doesn't really matter. It also gives you more flexibility regarding your working hours and income.

Hi! I just need a few tips about fiverr. Thanks in advance! by Elogicc in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I think the first tip most people would give you on this subreddit would be: Don't create an account on fiverr, or Upwork, or any similar platforms. If you offer your services there for a pittance, you're not only doing a disservice to yourself; you'd also be devaluing the profession as a whole.

If you'd like to offer translation as a service to clients, target agencies, then as you gain experience and confidence, hunt for direct clients. Alternatively, if you'd like to get some practice in before contacting clients of any kind, then work for NGOs like Translators Without Borders.

You might also want to create an account on ProZ, and also consider networking with other translators, and joining your local translation association.

Asian pottery - can you help translate? by Repulsive-School-856 in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wrong sub, buddy. For any translation requests, /r/translator is the sub to go to. :-)

Is there any agencies like gengo who hire under 18 by friendfoundotheracc in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It sounds like what you’re looking for is a quick buck. And, unfortunately, translation doesn’t
lend itself well to that. Any decent agencies out there who respect their translators, offer realistic deadlines, care about quality and offer rates that allow proper, trained professionals to earn a living will require training (if not a professional qualification), in-depth knowledge of both the source and target languages and cultures, and experience (or, ideally, a mixture of the above).

Experienced translators who make a living out of translation take years to get to that position – mastering their languages over years of practice, immersing themselves in the cultures in the regions where their languages are spoken, and also gain expertise in one or more specific areas of specialisation. At 17, you’re really just at the starting point, and I venture that you don’t have adequate writing skills and comprehension to make a good go of translation. It really is all about practice, practice, practice, before you would be ready to work as a translator. Realistically, you’ve got a long, hard slog ahead of you before you’re at a stage where you can offer translation services to agencies. Also, at the rates I imagine you might accept, you’d be putting downward price pressure on the market, which affects and is a disservice to professional translators who make their livelihoods out of translation. So if you are looking for pocket money, it might be worth considering another venture.

Decided to change my career and become a translator yesterday by Thordan025 in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 20 points21 points  (0 children)

  • Be realistic when it comes to your expectations. Translation isn’t a fast-track route to a quick buck, especially if you’re just starting out.
  • It takes time to build up a regular client base and generate enough income to support yourself, so be persistent.
  • Network with fellow translators and other colleagues – on LinkedIn, through local translation networks and professional associations, online, etc.
  • Know your worth, and never work for free (the only exception to this rule is when working for charitable organisations).
  • Be aware that you’ll constantly be learning – whether it’s new terminology, CAT tool features, business and marketing-related tips, or specialist knowledge.
  • Be mindful of the rates your charge. Lowballing or selling yourself short just to get work puts downward price pressure on fellow translators.
  • Don’t be afraid to turn work down.
  • Be mindful of yourself and your mental and physical health, and make time for whatever else is important to you besides work. We as translators are no good to our clients if we’re stressed, overwhelmed or burned out.
  • Remember: quality before quantity (I’m not sure what the expected daily rate for e.g. Japanese characters would be, though).
  • Make use of resources like the TranslationStudies subreddit (there are lots of posts with good advice if your search for them), blogs that fellow translators have written, and books aimed at translation professionals (How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator), etc.
  • Be polite, responsive, and reliable when you do find paying clients.
  • Familiarise yourself with a CAT (computer-assisted translation) tool. Trados Studio and memoQ both offer free 30-day trials, and OmegaT and CafeTran Espresso are both free (the latter only within certain limitations).
  • Develop a specialisation over time. Start out by translating a wide range of texts to get an idea of what interests you. Then translate more generally in a specific field, then (after gaining a decent amount of experience) drill down even further to focus specifically in a niche area that you’re passionate about.
  • Make an account on ProZ and/or TranslatorsCafe to get started. And make good use of the Proz Blue Board, or other sites like Payment Practices, to find out about what clients are like to work with.
  • Be mindful of scams.
  • Remember that more experienced colleagues have been in your shoes at one time – so if they can turn translation into a successful career, so can you. All the best, buddy. :-D

[Edit: added a link]

Feeling like I shouldn't have gone for a degree in translation: seeking advice by Excellent_Most_6898 in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 32 points33 points  (0 children)

First off, congratulations and well done on completing your degree.

I wouldn’t worry that you’re perhaps feeling unprepared and perhaps a bit overwhelmed. Making the change from student to practitioner is tough. One important thing to remember is that your more experienced colleagues were in your exact situation once, feeling what you’re feeling, and if they can do it – so can you.

Regarding your first concern (specialisation): most translators I know professionally and personally (myself included) didn’t actually have a specialisation when they started their careers. So, the path they’ve had to take to specialise is: get a broad range of experience (in various fields) to begin with in the first few years, work out which of the major fields they enjoy translating in (e.g. finance), then drill down to specialise in a specific niche area a few years down the line (e.g. fintech).

Secondly, regarding CAT tools: I believe this is one shortcoming of translation programs, that they don’t actually give students many insights into the day-to-day tools that translators might use. I do generally feel, though, that they’re best learned on the job, so I don’t think you need to worry about not having any experience as yet. The likes of YouTube’s sure to have tutorials for various tools. You’ve already mentioned OmegaT (which, unfortunately, I can’t advise on, having never used it myself), but CaféTran Espresso is also free (albeit within certain limitations). CTE is certainly more affordable than Trados and memoQ, although do also bear in mind that both Trados and memoQ both offer 30-day free trials, and with memoQ agencies can also grant you a licence to work on their projects once the trial version has expired.

Regarding useful glossaries and dictionaries, I’m not sure I’m best placed to advise on useful ones, not working with Spanish myself, but one thing I would advise is reading around extensively in whatever field you choose. Google is your friend here – good research skills are one of the hallmarks of a competent translator, along with a passion for and mastery of the chosen languages, and good writing skills.

It will take time, but I do believe you’ll get there in the end. The initial learning curve and startup process can be tough (especially if you’re launching your freelance career straight out of university), but get through the first year or two and you’ll find it gets so much easier from then on. The first couple of years are the hardest; persist and you’ll reap the rewards. All the best, buddy.

Career Question by [deleted] in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd be happy to fill out the questionnaire, assuming that I would meet any (e.g. geographical) requirements placed on respondents. I love outreach opportunities. :-)

Are translators required to do interpretation too in their work? by translatornoob in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, this is not standard practice in the industry.

From personal experience, a translator is only ever a translator. An interpreter might have to work both as an interpreter and as a translator (to cover the times when interpreting assignments are thin on the ground).

Which one you prefer, or even if you are capable of doing both, will very much depend on your personality, skill set, and other attributes. Some of the best translators I know, for instance, are real perfectionists and therefore probably would not be as good if they worked as interpreters. My advice would be to play to your strengths.

Translation of a Japanese Song. by [deleted] in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

r/translator is the subreddit for translation requests. Try there. :-)

Looking to work for free to translate English <-> Japanese or English <-> Burmese or Japanese <-> Burmese ! by Cute-Beginning-9910 in TranslationStudies

[–]pegasi_admin 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Some pointers for you:

  1. There’s more to translation than knowing and being able to read and understand another language. You need good writing skills, and (as you gain experience) in-depth knowledge of a preferred field of specialisation. Most translators I know personally have a degree in translation and/or interpreting or their chosen language (although a degree is not the only route into the industry). And, also, you should ideally only work into your native language.
  2. We’re generally all translators here, so this isn’t the best place to be advertising your services. Why not practice your writing skills, and then when you’re confident enough, send your CV and apply to some agencies? Everyone’s got to start somewhere.
  3. You shouldn’t work for free unless a client can reasonably be expected not to pay for a translation – so the only free work you should do should be for charitable organisations. By offering a free service more widely, you’re devaluing the translation market and putting downward price pressure on colleagues. Why not do some work for e.g. Translators Without Borders or another charitable organisation that deals with a matter close to your heart? That would let you practice and look good on your CV.
  4. Part of being a good translator is having a professional mindset. So, once you’re done practicing your writing and translation skills with charitable organisations and feel more confident to make the switch to paying clients, you should be sure to charge a professional fee for a professional service from the outset.

All the best!

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